The Pushka

The term “pushka” might have derived from a Slavic word meaning a cylindrical box that was used to collect money. From there it crept into the Yiddish, for a similar use in a shul. In general, it was used to refer to the type of box use by one collecting coins from donors.

In the times of the Bais Hamikdash, people would save small coins toward a sum needed for an offering. They used a box or jar, with a letter or word on the outside to indicate the purpose of the money being saved. Other monies that had specific designations, such as money used to redeem the sanctity of maasersheini, the second tithe taken to Yerushalayim, might also be placed in a specially labeled jar or box.

Inside the Bais haMikdash there were conical boxes to collect donations toward the different needs or obligations. These were called shofaros, due to their conical appearance. One put money into the small opening at the top, but could not get into the shofar to remove it. The treasurers of the Bais haMikdash could access the money from the bottom. Rabbinic literature used shofar to refer to what was called a pushka in Yiddish.

A Shofar is a container for holding coins which is in the shape of a horn (wide at the base and thin on top). Its opening was narrow so that it would be impossible to remove its contents.

There were thirteen Shofaros in the Beis haMikdash, each one for a different purpose, per Shekalim 18a.

1. / תִּקְלִין חַדְתִּין / new Shekalim; i.e., those donated toward the purchase of Korbanos for the current year
2. / תִּקְלִין עַתִּיקִין / old Shekalim; i.e., those owed from previous years
3. / קִנִין / pairs of birds, i,e,obligatory birds for atonement, i.e. Zavim, Zavos, and Yoldos
4. / גוֹזְלֵי עולה / young birds as Olah offerings
5. / עֵצִים / [fire]wood to fuel the Mizbeach
6. / לְבוֹנָה / frankincense; which emit a pleasing scent when burned [to be offered alone upon the Mizbeach]
7. / לְכַפּוֹרֶת / for acquiring the Klei Shares, which provide atonement
8-13. / נָדַָבה / six Shofaros for voluntary collection to purchase Korbanos for KayitzhaMizbeach, Korban Olos offered when the Mizbeach was not in use.These offerings are called Kayitz since they are a "dessert" for the Mizbeach. Kayitzare cut figs, a common dessert.

Why were six shofaros set up for voluntary collection chests? Per Shekalim 18b, four opinions provided:

  1. Chizkiyah: for the six BataiAvos, one per day. The Kohanim were divided into 24 Mishmaros, one per week to serve in the Bais haMikdash. Each Mishmar of Kohaimwere divided into six BataiAvos.
  2. Ben Pediyah: for the six types of animals that were placed on the Mizbeach: פר, עגל, שעיר, איל, גדי, טלה
  3. Shmuel: for the six types of individual korbanos: bird offerings of the zav and zavah, bird offerings of the birthing mother; sin-offering, the guilt offerings, flour sin offering and the daily flour offing of the Kohen Gadol.
  4. Rabbi Yochanan: since the Jews made so many voluntary contributions the Bais haMikdash needed multiple shofaros to contain the coins, and there was no difference between them.

What was the physical description of the Shofaros?

The only description was the top had to be shaped (like a shofar) thin and twisted to prevent even the appearance that someone could reach in and improperly take money out.

No commentator provides dimensions of the shofaros. They must have been very large in order to hold the amount of coins. Further, the weight of the coins prevented easy access to the money by lifting the shofar and dumping the contents, or even having an opening in the bottom. Did they have a locked opening on the side (like a mail box)? The later Mishneh describes that the Shofaros were arranged in a circle, so it would be apparent when an authorized person went into the middle to collect the coins.